Michelle Obama Watch

It must be an editorial dictate at the New York Times to describe Michelle Obama as having a “strong personality.” What does “strong personality” mean?

On June 8, 2008, in an article by ADAM NAGOURNEY and JEFF ZELENY, the NY Times printed the following:

Recognizing the extent to which Republicans view Michelle Obama’s strong views and personality as a potential liability for her husband, Mr. Obama’s aides said they were preparing to bring aboard senior operatives from previous Democratic presidential campaigns to work with her, a clear departure from the typical way the spouse of a candidate is staffed. New York Times

Again, on the same day in the Fashion and Style section’s Fashion Diary, the “strong personality” appeared again:

Unlikely as it seems, Michelle Obama, the corporate lawyer with a big education, a bigger résumé and a history of high earnings, can sometimes appear to be tempering her own strong personality with a modernized version of another era’s ladylike clothes. New York Times

The rest of the article pays homage to Michelle’s fashion choices throughout the campaign.